HOW CAN CANADIAN TELCOS CREATE & IMPLEMENT A HEALTHCARE IoT STRATEGY UTILIZING THEIR EXISTING NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES IN THE CANADIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM APRJ-699 Applied Project - MBA Sayan Sivanathan Word Count: 15,296 Dr. Andre Haritz Acknowledgement I am extremely grateful to all individuals who have helped me to conclude this research study successfully. I have been able to develop my skills on the different approaches related to this dissertation. I would specially want to convey my deep gratitude to my academic coaches Dr. Andre Haritz and Dr. Angela Workman-Stark, who have guided me whenever I needed any help during this study. Special thanks to Michael J. Martin, Cathy Szabo, Raj Vijan, Tyson Roffey, Ken Gouveia, Ying Tam, Zeine Teeka, Tim Ing and Michael Widner for the in- depth discussions on Canadian Healthcare and IoT. I am also excessively thankful to my classmates and colleagues for sharing their knowledge on healthcare IoT strategies. Finally, I would like to thank my wife (Anu), my three boys (Shaye, Bryce & Levi) and my family (my father - Sivanathan, mother - Jeyamaharani, brother- Sanchay, sister- Hamza, father in law- Ilangainathan and mother in law- Pushparany) who have been a constant source of support for me and have endured my tantrums during the conduct of this study. Thank You. Abstract During the depression years, the need for public healthcare grew and this led to Tommy Douglas putting forth his model of public healthcare in Saskatchewan in 1962. It was Tommy Douglas’ vision that every Canadian, regardless of social or economic status, should have access to public healthcare. Since 1966, Canada’s public healthcare system has gone through significant evolution. Despite government commitment to preserving the healthcare system, there are several gaps and inefficiencies in the healthcare system. Some of the issues include long wait times, the systems are too costly to operate, it is wrought with inefficiencies, the Canadian population is ageing, and there has been an increase in chronic disease and illness. The main purpose of this conceptual paper was to determine whether Canadian Telcos can leverage their existing network infrastructure with IoT to assist with the problems faced by the Canadian healthcare system. To achieve this goal, the paper undertook a qualitative approach by examining various data from scholarly articles, media articles on healthcare, case studies, healthcare blogs and an examination of current solutions offered by Canada’s “big three” telecom companies (Bell, Rogers and TELUS). The key findings of this paper was that by implementing IoT and 5G (5G is a term that stands for fifth generation, and it is the latest technology in wireless communication network) via various communication companies, the Canadian healthcare system can become more efficient; through new technological advancements and communication between medical professionals and the public. Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 RESEARCH PURPOSE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ................................................................ 14 3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 17 4.0 RESEARCH DESIGN & DATA COLLECTION .............................................................................. 44 5.0 ANALYSIS/RESULTS ............................................................................................................. 46 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................... 76 7.0 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 82 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................. 84 REFERENCES:............................................................................................................................. 94 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The state and opportunity of the Canadian HealthCare System Canada’s public healthcare system is part of the Canadian identity; it is cherished and valued by Canadians, as well as newcomers to Canada. Our healthcare system is what makes us unique in comparison to other countries in the world. In centralizing our identity in free and affordable healthcare, Canadian’s have become complacent. Although having affordable healthcare is a phenomenal asset to the nation, it is critical that constant improvements are invested in. With more hospitals planned to be built in the near future, the government of Canada has a big opportunity to invest in new technologies that can be integrated in the infrastructure that will improve the efficiency of the healthcare system. Technologies like machine learning software that detects certain cancers and tumors via imaging and incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) framework into data collection are two areas that should be addressed first. Machine learning software that detects cancers and tumors are currently being tested and proven for their efficacy as we speak which reduces the risks associated on a government incorporating it into their healthcare system. On the other hand, IoT systems are still in their infancy and still must be heavily invested in to perfect their systematic flow and connectivity of data. The security of data during the holding or transferring of data is a key aspect that must be confirmed before the technology is fully integrated. The Canadian government could easily partner with telco companies and share the burden of investing, research and developing the refined means in which this technology can be implemented into the current healthcare system. In regards to implementing an IoT framework into the Canada’s telecommunications industry consists of six sectors: local, long distance, internet, wireless, data, and private lines. The two largest sectors combined Internet and wireless, have grown by more than $7.3 billion or 25.9% 2 since 2012, and accounted for more than 63.8% of total telecommunications revenues in 2012 and 72.3% in 2016. Over the same five-year period, wire line voice service revenues have shown steady declines, representing 18.5% of total telecommunications revenues in 2016 compared to 25.6% in 2012. (Pwc.com, 2018). In 2016, Canadian telecommunications revenues reached $48.7 billion, with the vast majority (92%) derived from retail services and the balance (8%) from the wholesale sector. Service providers supplied retail services to over 14 million households, 1 million businesses, and, through the wholesale market, 800 other telecommunications entities. Service providers continued to increase investments in their infrastructure, with capital expenditures reaching $11.6 billion in 2016, an 11.3% increase over 2015 levels. Canadians from coast to coast are proud of our healthcare system and it’s what separates us from the US (Seekingalpha, 2016). Since the implementation of the Canadian Medical Insurance Act in 1968, Canada has had a fully functioning public healthcare system. The current model covers a large number of healthcare services. Despite the comprehensiveness and functionality of the Canadian HealthCare system, it is not without its flaws. Canada’s healthcare system faces major challenges and is now falling behind the healthcare systems of other commonwealth countries. 1.2 Pride Canadians have in their healthcare system Canadians from coast to coast have a tremendous amount of pride in our healthcare system. Canada’s earliest form of public healthcare began at the end of World War 1 (WWI), where the Canadian government offered free healthcare to Canada’s WWI veterans. During the depression years, the need for a public healthcare grew and this led to Tommy Douglas putting forth his 3 model of public healthcare in Saskatchewan in 1962. It was Tommy Douglas’s vision that every Canadian regardless of social or economic status should have access to public healthcare. Tommy Douglas’s vision was put into action by the Lester Pearson government in 1966 through the Medical Care Act or Medicare. Since 1966, the Medical Care Act has gone through significant changes, however the main principles of Act (a public healthcare system across Canada) remains in place. 1.3 Overview of the Problems in Canadian Healthcare Since 1966, Canada’s public healthcare system has gone through significant evolution. Despite government commitment to preserving the healthcare system, there are several gaps and inefficiencies in the healthcare system. Some of the issues include long wait times, the system too costly to operate, it is wrought with inefficiencies, the Canadian population is ageing and there has been an increase chronic diseases and illness. If solutions are not found to these problems, the Canadian healthcare system will no longer be the pride and joy of Canadians. Successive governments have worked towards finding solutions towards the problems of Canadian healthcare. However, much of the solutions are short-term and the problems stated above, will re-emerge with time. The Canadian government has yet to find a long-term solution to the problems stated above. The Canadian healthcare system takes care of all its citizens, where all have been given access to quality healthcare. One of the problems with the Canadian healthcare system is the factor